UN human rights chief raises alarm after drone strikes kill more than 50 civilians in Sudan

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk expressed alarm over reports of more than 50 civilians being killed in drone strikes in Sudan within two days this week.

At least 57 civilians were killed between Sunday and Monday in separate drone attacks across four states in Sudan, according to the UN.

Turk said that the killings were a reminder of the devastating consequences of drone warfare in Sudan, with civilians and civilian infrastructure targeted.

The UN reported that approximately 28 civilians were killed on Sunday in an alleged Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) drone strike on Al Safiya market in Sudari locality, North Kordofan.

The following day, 26 civilians were killed in West Kordofan in an alleged SAF drone strike at a displacement shelter in Al Sunut. And on Monday, the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted drone strikes on two primary schools in Dilling, South Kordofan, the UN reported.

"The continued attacks by all parties on civilian objects must stop. The parties must take urgent measures to protect civilians, including by refraining from the military use of civilian objects," said Turk.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Children's Fund has called on authorities to protect civilians after at least 15 children were killed at the displacement camp.

"Desperate families in Sudan seek shelter in displacement camps after fleeing hunger and violence.  Their protection is an obligation," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. "Across the Kordofan region, we are seeing the same disturbing patterns from Darfur – children killed, injured, displaced and cut off from the services they need to survive.”

Greater Kordofan has emerged as the latest frontline in Sudan’s nearly three-year conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which has displaced millions of people and triggered a humanitarian crisis.